7 TV Stars Looking For Their Next Hit
Abe Fried-Tanzer - August 21, 2009
Courteney Cox
Last Hit Series: Friends (NBC) from 1994-2004
What Has She Done for Us Lately: Cox headlined FX's two-season drama Dirt as a cutthroat magazine editor and guest-starred as a cutthroat Chief of Medicine on Scrubs.
New Fall Series: Cougar Town (ABC)
Why This Might Be Her Next Hit: After teasing out Monica's darker side by playing vicious, manipulative characters, Cox is returning to her friendlier side as a cougar in a new town. New York was great, California didn't treat her very well, but maybe she'll find a Winter home in Florida. |
Julianna Margulies
Last Hit Series: ER (NBC) from 1994-2000
What Has She Done for Us Lately: She had lead roles in two well-received miniseries, The Grid and The Lost Room, but her midseason 2006 FOX legal thriller Canterbury's Law lasted only six episodes.
New Fall Series: The Good Wife (CBS)
Why This Might Be Her Next Hit: Her last series was a short-lived legal procedural. Learning from that failure, she's trying a less-generic legal role this time -- playing the part of the good wife who's suddenly thrust back into the courtroom when she has to bring home the bread for her family. |
Ed O'Neill
Last Hit Series: Married…with Children (FOX) from 1987-1997
What Has He Done for Us Lately: O'Neill starred in ABC's remake of Dragnet for a short time and spent an even shorter season on HBO's John from Cincinnati.
New Fall Series: Modern Family (ABC)
Why This Might Be His Next Hit: O'Neill's last hit has been off the air for twelve years, but his upcoming show bares a stark resemblance to his former one -- he's still a wisecracking married man, and now, over a decade later, he's part of a modern family. |
Mischa Barton
Last Hit Series: The O.C. (FOX) from 2003-2006
What Has She Done for Us Lately: After exiting The O.C. a year before its demise, Barton made several horror films and remained in the spotlight -- mostly due to her personal life and health-related issues.
New Fall Series: The Beautiful Life: TBL (CW)
Why This Might Be Her Next Hit: Those unimpressed with her acting won't be too disappointed with her newest role as a vain model who's concerned with nothing besides living the beautiful life. Doesn't sound like much of a stretch. |
Jenna Elfman
Last Hit Series: Dharma & Greg (ABC) from 1997-2002
What Has She Done for Us Lately: Dharma ditched Greg, and Jenna scored her own show, Courting Alex, a midseason entry for CBS in 2006 that failed to catch on.
New Fall Series: Accidentally On Purpose (CBS)
Why This Might Be Her Next Hit: The hyperactive chatterbox is playing a truly impulsive character once again -- Dharma married Greg on their first date and now Billie accidentally gets pregnant on her first "date" with Zack. On Courting Alex she wasn't even the most spontaneous character, and the best she could do was kiss a guy during their first business deal. |
Patricia Heaton / Kelsey Grammer
Last Hit Series: Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) from 1996-2005 / Frasier (NBC) from 1993-2004
What Have They Done for Us Lately: After bringing home a combined total of six Emmys for their work on their respective long-running popular sitcoms, these two starred together in FOX's ill-fated 2007 comedy Back to You, which failed to get renewed for a second season.
New Fall Series: The Middle (ABC) / Hank (ABC)
Why These Might Be Their Next Hits: They're both leaving FOX for their new home on ABC, returning to roles they know best -- Heaton is a stressed wife and mother, and Grammer is a hotshot celebrity who has a way with words. Those characters sound awfully familiar, but audiences are hankering for a few easy laughs in the middle of the week. Paired together on Wednesday nights, these two shows may avoid the fate of most ABC sitcoms: speedy cancellation. |
Whose return are you most excited for? Which of these shows will make the cut?
Abe Fried-Tanzer is a student at New York University majoring in cinema studies and journalism. He makes it his priority each year to see every Oscar-nominated film and watch every new television pilot, and writes reviews and awards predictions on his personal movie and TV blogs.